† ˈsarcel Obs.
Also 5, 7 sercell, sercil, 6–7 sarcell, 7 sarcill.
[a. OF. cercel (mod.F. cerceau):—late L. circellus, dim. of circus circle (see circus).]
A pinion feather of a hawk's wing. Also sarcel feather.
| 1496 Bk. St. Albans, Hawking a v b, The feders that some calle the pynyon feder of a nother foule: of an hawke it is callyd the Sercell. 1575 Turberv. Faulconrie 272 Within Sixe or Seven dayes she will caste..hir Sarcels or flagges. 1591 Sylvester Du Bartas i. v. (1641) 45 The Marlin, Lanar, and the gentle Tercell, Th' Ospray, and Saker, with a nimble sarcell, Follow the Phœnix. 1611 Cotgr., Cerceau,..the Sercell, or Sarcell (feather) of a hawkes wing. 1678 Phillips (ed. 4), Sercil. 1688 Holme Armoury ii. xi. 237/1 The Sarcell Feathers, are the extream pinion Feathers in the Hawks Wing. |
b. fig. or in fig. context.
| 1610 W. Folkingham Art of Survey Ep. Ded. p. ii, Skie⁓towring Faulcons, whose Quills imped with strong Sarcells of the Grace of Greatnes. 1630 Drummond of Hawthornden Flowres of Sion 33 My Knowledge sharpen, Sarcells lend my thought. 1649 G. Daniel Trinarch., Hen. V, xxxvii, Vnfledg'd Witt Imp't from the ragged Sarcill Chaucer drop't. |